Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Your teenage daughter can now be screened for anxiety — here’s how

Lauren Barth
By

The stigma around mental health disorders is shifting. At one time, not too long ago, it felt shameful to admit you felt down, depressed, or perpetually worried. Fortunately, it is no longer considered embarrassing or abnormal to admit that you feel less than constantly happy, content, balanced, and adjusted. And while the tide was already turning, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was the ultimate catalyst that put a veritable megaphone to the mouths of many people suffering in silence.

After all, who among us did not experience some degree of depression and anxiety during this incredibly trying period of uncertainty and despair? Indeed, mental health is no longer taking a back seat in our lives, individually and collectively — and we could not be more relieved to know that help is now widely available to those who need it, for adults and adolescents. And most especially for teen girls, who commonly face high levels of anxiety in their everyday existence.

teen girl at doctor
fizkes/Shutterstock

Anxiety in teen girls

According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, anxiety disorders commonly begin in girls around 11 years of age. As noted by the report, “In adolescent girls, worries about school performance, concerns about appearance, earlier sexualization, changing media and consumer culture, and poor self-esteem are important triggers.” In turn, anxiety can affect academic performance, relationships, home life, physical health, and more.

Recommended Videos

Anxiety screening for teens and adolescent girls

Thanks to a newly passed 2019 proposition under the Affordable Care Act, women and girls beginning at age 13 can and should be screened for anxiety during their wellness exam with a primary physician or gynecologist. Most insurance will completely cover this anxiety screening.

Related

According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) website, this screening step is important “given the high prevalence of anxiety disorders, lack of recognition in clinical practice, and multiple problems associated with untreated anxiety.” While frequency of screening is not defined, the HRSA advises using “clinical judgment.”

Psychiatrist Dr. Maureen Sayres Van Niel told TheLily that “this is a real breakthrough because we’re now saying that the mental health conditions that women suffer from are extremely important, and they need to be screened for.”

She elaborated: “It legitimizes the fact that anxiety is a serious condition that needs treatment and has huge consequences for people, and for women’s lives particularly. It’s not that it’s only in women. It’s just that it’s twice as prevalent in women.”

Common signs of anxiety in youth

Some common symptoms of anxiety in girls include irritability, sudden changes in socializing, perpetual exhaustion, frequent headaches or stomach troubles, sleep disturbances, panic attacks, and performance dips in school work and other areas. Anxiety manifests differently in different people — and the symptoms can be broad, which is why a screening is a great way to help hone in on the issue at hand.

teen daughter and mom talking
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is the next step after an anxiety screening?

Of course, while an anxiety and mental health screening is an important step, it is just the beginning. Your child’s doctor can help guide you and your daughter on a path to treatment that may involve a combination of options, including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy (otherwise known as talk therapy) and/or medication.

Moreover, it is critical to remember that you know your child best. If you suspect that they are experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, you can be proactive in your approach to the situation — no need to wait for a wellness screening and prolong your child’s pain. Talk to your daughter openly and honestly, and seek out professional help if necessary.

Anxiety disorders are common in women and adolescent girls. Knowing the signs can help you help your child. Moreover, making sure that they get regularly screened at the doctor’s office is a smart way to stay ahead of the curve and be proactive about psychological wellbeing. There is no shame in recognizing mental health problems and facing them head-on; you can make sure your teen recognizes this truth and then work together to overcome any anxiety issues with guidance, love, and professional treatment.

Editors' Recommendations

Lauren Barth
Lauren Barth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lauren Barth is a freelance writer and digital editor with over a decade of experience creating lifestyle, parenting, travel…
When can babies have chocolate milk? This is when it’s safe to let your child indulge
How to introduce this beverage to your child
A glass of chocolate milk with a straw

Introducing your baby to new foods is a fun milestone for every parent. Watching your little ones as they experience new tastes and textures is an exciting part of their development. Many parents know when they can begin to introduce milk to their babies, but may wonder if the same rules apply to chocolate milk. Are little babes old enough to try it yet? When can babies have chocolate milk? It can be quite the job to keep up with what babies can have and at what age. So, for this delectable treat, we will help you find out when little ones can indulge in a glass.

Babies shouldn't have sweets or milk if they're not at least a year old. But even if they've celebrated that first birthday, there are other factors to consider.

Read more
Is your toddler hitting others? What you can do to stop this bad behavior
If you have a toddler hitting others, here's how to get through it, what to do, and what not to do as a parent
Toddler boy crying

When a toddler hits, it throws parents for a loop. It is especially stressful when a toddler hits others for no reason they see or hits another child at day care. You might find yourself wondering what could be going on with your little one. But as babies grow from infants to toddlers, they develop more emotions and opinions. And though it seems like the toddler is hitting for no reason, the truth is it often becomes a way for them to express those emotions.
While toddlers hitting others could be a scary stage for a child and parent, there are ways to work through it together. We'll go over why your toddler is hitting other kids, how to get them to stop, and what parents need to remember during this stage in your child's life.

A few reasons why your child will hit
They see others doing it
Hitting is a learned behavior. Perhaps a sibling is hitting your toddler at home, and your toddler is turning around and doing it to other kids at day care (or vice versa). As adults, we know this behavior isn’t nice. We want to convey that to our children so they don’t hit at day care, home, or anywhere.
There is a language barrier
“[Toddlers] have very low impulse control because they are just babies, and they are learning how to control their body and emotions,” said Ann McKitrick, M.S., an early childhood specialist and founder of Nurtured Noggins. “They simply don’t have the words yet to express what they want to express. A hit expresses what they feel in a very effective way … they are learning that they have a little bit of personal power.”
Toddlers understand words, but they don’t always know how to use them. “Their receptive vocabulary is high,” McKitrick said. “Their expressive vocabulary is not.” McKitrick suggests teaching your child sign language (or finding a day care that does this as many will). Learning signs for words like stop, no, and angry helps toddlers communicate more productively and stops them from hitting.

Read more
Are your kids watching TV too much? The screen time guide every parent needs
Everything you need to know about screen time and your kids
Two siblings lying on the floor watching tv together.

By now, every parent has gotten the message that the time their kids are watching TV should be limited. Parents are inundated with messaging around screen time and how much is too much, but the reality is that kids watching TV can often give parents a much-needed break. Whether it's to get a meal ready, throw in a load of laundry, or simply enjoy a few minutes without a child asking you for something, letting your kids watch TV feels like an easy and harmless way to keep them occupied, but what amount is okay and how much is too much?
Watching TV can impact children in a few ways, and it all depends on multiple factors. For instance, are you spending time with them while they watch? How many hours per day do they spend glued to the tube? What shows do they watch? We've collected the important information so you can make the best decision about your child's television intake.

What age is too young for kids to watch TV?
According to pediatrician Dr. David Hill, MD, FAAP, "it takes around 18 months for a baby's brain to develop to the point where the symbols on a screen come to represent their equivalents in the real world." So, it's important that babies get real-life social interaction, and not stare at screens all day.

Read more